Is Tarek a boy's or girl's name?

Tarek is primarily a boy's name.

When was Tarek most popular?

Tarek reached its peak popularity in 1996 with 64 births that year. It is currently ranked #4163 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Tarek?

Tarek is currently ranked #4163 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 2,256 babies since 1962.

Tarek

An uncommon Arabic pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's nameArabicDeclining

#4163▼ 885in 2024

Meaning & Origin

Synonym of pearl mullet.

Tarek is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin, a variant of Tariq, meaning 'morning star' or 'one who knocks at the door' — derived from tariq (night visitor, he who comes by night). Tariq ibn Ziyad was the Berber general who led the Islamic conquest of Visigothic Spain in 711, lending his name to Gibraltar (Jabal al-Tariq — Mountain of Tariq).

Tarek carries the dramatic history of one of the most audacious military crossings in medieval history. A name that literally built a mountain of legend.

Compare Tarek with another name

Popularity Over Time

Tarek was #2689 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #4163, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Tarek
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	163	#3562	▼
2010s	395	#3058	▼
2000s	444	#2566	▼
1990s	553	#1692	▲
1980s	383	#1740	▲
1970s	242	#1973	▲
1960s	76	#3019	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(62 years, 1962–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Tarek
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	26	#4163	-11 (-29.7%)
2023	37	#3278	+2 (5.7%)
2022	35	#3402	+2 (6.1%)
2021	33	#3486	+1 (3.1%)
2020	32	#3481	+4 (14.3%)
2019	28	#3887	-17 (-37.8%)
2018	45	#2742	-11 (-19.6%)
2017	56	#2338	+8 (16.7%)
2016	48	#2618	+2 (4.3%)
2015	46	#2674	+11 (31.4%)
2014	35	#3215	-3 (-7.9%)
2013	38	#2989	+3 (8.6%)
2012	35	#3226	+5 (16.7%)
2011	30	#3590	-4 (-11.8%)
2010	34	#3297	-10 (-22.7%)
2009	44	#2795	+2 (4.8%)
2008	42	#2874	+9 (27.3%)
2007	33	#3373	-12 (-26.7%)
2006	45	#2650	0
2005	45	#2524	+5 (12.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1962–2024) · Methodology